Drop-prevention apparatus for a rolled product

ABSTRACT

A drop-prevention lanyard for rolled product includes a flexible strap having a first strap end portion with a first strap end, a second strap end portion with a second strap end, and a body portion between the first strap end portion and the second strap end portion. The first strap end portion is fixedly attached to the body portion at an attachment point, thereby defining a first loop at a first lanyard end portion. A connector on the flexible strap is operable between an open connector position and a closed connector position. The connector is positioned to selectively connect the second strap end to the body portion. A tubular member is installed over the second strap end portion of the flexible strap and is positioned between the attachment point and the second strap end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to drop-prevention apparatusesand more particularly to a drop-prevention apparatus for productsdispensed from a roll.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lanyards, tethers, hooks, and similar restraints are used to preventaccidental dropping of tools. These restraints are particularly usefulfor workers at height and in environments where a tool drop can causesubstantial damage or harm to plant equipment, to workers, or to objectsbelow a worker who accidentally drops a tool.

One method of tethering a tool includes clipping one end of a tether toan opening in the handle of a tool (e.g., an adjustable wrench) and toclip the other end of the tether to the worker's belt or to a nearbystructure. When workers properly tether a tool in this way, accidentaldrops can be eliminated or greatly reduced.

For materials and supplies used to perform work, however, a lanyard orholding apparatus for tools is useful only in some situations. Attemptshave been made to hold rolls of work material, such as duct tape anddrywall joint tape. In one approach for a roll of duct tape, a length ofsoft nylon webbing with a snap hook on each end is used to tether theduct tape. One of the snap hooks is looped through the opening of thetape roll and clipped to the webbing just above the tape roll to form aclosed loop that secures the tape roll. The snap hook at the oppositeend of the nylon webbing is similarly clipped around a structure. Whenused in this way, the nylon webbing grips the tape roll by makingcontact with the sides of the tape roll and with the inner and outersurfaces. The nylon webbing contacts the sides of the tape roll evenwhen the webbing is a loose loop through the tape roll.

Another approach for rolled products is a holder with a metal frame asis used for dispensing drywall joint tape. The holder has a verticalmain section with a first end portion and a second end portion eachextending horizontally from the main section. One end of a cylinder isattached to the middle of the main section with the cylinder extendinghorizontally from the main section in the same general direction as thefirst and second end portions and defining an E shape. A roll of drywalltape is installed on the holder with the cylinder extending through theopening of the tape roll. A holder wire or bar is then connected betweenthe first and second end portions. The holder wire extends in contactwith the second end of the cylinder, thereby maintaining the drywalltape roll on the cylinder. A clip on the main section is used to clipthe holder to the user's belt or waistband with the vertical mainsection extending downward along the side of the user's leg. The taperoll freely rotates about the cylinder to dispense the tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, the above-described tethers and drywall tape dispensershave deficiencies that render them inconvenient, unsafe, or otherwiseinappropriate for workers at height who use rolled products such astape. Since the webbing contacts the sides of the tape roll and gripsthe tape roll, it interferes with the ability of the tape roll to freelyrotate about the lanyard, thereby making it difficult to dispense thetape. The difficulty in dispensing tape secured in this way leads toother unsafe conditions due to the worker being distracted by attemptingto dispense the tape. Also, for prolonged use, the tape roll rotating incontact with the webbing eventually wears down the webbing, which canlead to the webbing breaking and loss of the tape roll.

A problem with prior art drywall tape dispensers is that the dispenseris not intended to securely hold the tape roll, but instead is a tool ofconvenience. The construction, assembly, and use of the drywall tapedispensers allows the tape roll to be knocked loose from the holder andfor the holder to be knocked loose from the user, thereby resulting inan unsafe condition for workers at height.

Therefore, an alternative approach is needed to tethering rolled goods,such as tape, webbing, and the like. The present invention achieves thisand other objectives by providing a drop-prevention lanyard for rolledgoods, including rolled goods that are sized for hand-held use or forlightweight rolled goods capable of being handled by an individual. Inone embodiment, a drop-prevention lanyard for a rolled product includesa flexible strap having a first end portion with a first end, a secondend portion with a second end, and a body portion between the first endportion and the second end portion. The first end portion is fixedlyattached to the body portion at an attachment point, thereby defining afirst loop. A connector is connected to the flexible strap and operablebetween an open connector position and a closed connector position,where the connector is positioned to selectively connect the second endto the body portion. A tubular member is installed over the second endportion of the flexible strap and positioned between the attachmentpoint and the second end.

In another embodiment, the connector is attached to the second end. Insome embodiments, a passageway through the tubular member is sized toprohibit passage of the connector and, thus, removal of the tubularmember from the flexible strap.

In some embodiments, the tubular member substantially defines a U shape.In some embodiments, the tubular member has a first arm, a second arm,and a transverse arm between the first arm and the second arm. In someembodiments, the tubular member is unitary. In some embodiments, thesecond arm is shorter than the first arm. In some embodiments, thetubular member defines a J shape with a flattened bottom.

In another embodiment, a second connector is fixedly and/or permanentlyattached to the body portion of the flexible strap and positionedbetween the tubular member and the first loop, where the secondconnector is constructed to couple the connector to the body portion.

In another embodiment, a drop-prevention lanyard for a rolled productincludes a flexible strap having a first strap end portion with a firststrap end, a second strap end portion with a second strap end, and abody portion between the first strap end portion and the second strapend portion, where the first strap end portion is fixedly attached tothe body portion at an attachment point, thereby defining a first loopat a first lanyard end portion. The second strap end of the flexiblestrap has a closed loop. A tubular member is installed over the secondstrap end portion between the second strap end and the attachment point.In some embodiments, the tubular member substantially defines a U shapeor a J shape. The closed loop is sized to permit passage of the firstloop therethrough and the first loop is sized to permit passage ofsecond strap end portion and tubular member therethrough.

In another embodiment, the closed loop comprises a connector ringfixedly attached to the second strap end.

In another embodiment, the tubular member has a first arm and a secondarm, the first arm being spaced apart from the second arm by at leasttwo inches.

In another embodiment, a lanyard for a rolled product includes aflexible strap having a first strap end portion with a first strap end,a second strap end portion with a second strap end, and a body portionextending between the first strap end portion and the second strap endportion, where the body portion is fixedly attached to itself at anattachment point, defining a closed first loop with the first strap endportion and the second strap end portion extending from the attachmentpoint. The first strap end defines a first strap connector opening andthe second strap end defines a second strap connector opening. A firstconnector is attached through one or both of the first strap connectoropening and the second strap connector opening, where the firstconnector is operable between an open connector position and a closedconnector position, thereby being capable of selectively connecting thefirst strap end to the second strap end. A tubular member of apredefined length is installed over the flexible strap between thesecond strap end and the intersection point.

In another embodiment, the first connector is attached through the firststrap connector opening and the lanyard assembly includes a secondconnector connected through the second strap connector opening. In oneembodiment, the first connector is a carabiner and the second connectoris a closed loop.

In another embodiment, the lanyard includes an intermediate connectorinstalled between a first segment and a second segment of the second endportion, where the tubular member of predefined length is positionedbetween the second strap end and the intermediate connector.

In another embodiment, the tubular member has a passageway smaller thanthe second connector, thereby preventing removal of the tubular memberby sliding it over the second connector.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of tethering a roll ofrolled product includes the steps of providing a flexible strap having afirst strap end portion with a first strap end, a second strap endportion with a second strap end, and a body portion extending betweenthe first strap end portion and the second strap end portion, where thefirst strap end portion is fixedly attached to the body portion at anattachment point, defining a closed first loop; installing a tubularmember over the second strap end portion with the second strap endextending out through the tubular member, where the tubular membersubstantially defines a U shape or a J shape; passing the second strapend through an opening of the rolled product; positioning the rolledproduct between a first arm and a second arm of the tubular member; andconnecting the second strap end to the body portion.

In another embodiment, the method includes connecting the flexible strapto a structure by looping the first loop around the structure andpassing the second strap end portion with the rolled product through thefirst loop, thereby forming a slip knot around the structure.

In another embodiment of the method, the step of connecting the secondstrap end to the body portion includes coupling a connector to the bodyportion by operating the connector between an open connector positionand a closed connector position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a lanyardapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is side elevational view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 1 shownholding a roll of tape and attached to a structure.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a lanyardapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a lanyardapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a perspective illustration of the second end of a flexiblestrap showing the second end defining a loop.

FIG. 8B is a perspective illustration of the second end of a flexiblestrap showing the second end with a through opening.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 8 shownholding a roll of tape and attached to a structure.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a lanyardapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is side elevational view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 12shown with the first end disconnected from the second end.

FIG. 14 is a front and right perspective view of the lanyard apparatusof FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the lanyard apparatus of FIG. 12 shownholding a roll of tape and attached to a structure.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps in a method oftethering a roll of rolled product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated inFIGS. 1-16. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate front, side, and perspective views,respectively, of one embodiment of a drop-prevention lanyard 100 forrolled goods, such as tape and the like. Lanyard 100 in its assembledform has a first lanyard end portion 102, a second lanyard end portion104 and a lanyard middle portion 106 between first lanyard end portion102 and second lanyard end portion 104. First lanyard end portion 102has a first loop 124. Second lanyard end portion 104 is constructed toform an openable second loop 142. Lanyard 100 is assembled from anelongated flexible strap 110 having a first end portion 114 with a firststrap end 116, a second strap end portion 117 with a second strap end118 and a middle or body portion 120 that extends between and connectsfirst strap end portion 114 to second strap end portion 117. In oneembodiment, flexible strap 110 is a continuous length of webbing fromfirst strap end 116 to second strap end 118. In other embodiments,flexible strap 110 has distinct sections or segments that are connectedtogether either permanently or releasably. For example, connectors mayjoin together ends of segments of flexible strap 110.

In one embodiment, flexible strap 110 is webbing made of woven nylon,cotton, polypropylene, polyester or other natural or syntheticmaterials. In some embodiments, flexible strap 110 has a strap width 122(or diameter 122) of about ½ inch to about one inch. Larger and smallervalues of strap width 122 are acceptable depending on the intended useand capacity (weight and/or number of rolls) of lanyard 100. Flexiblestrap can also be made of non-woven materials, leather, plastic, cord,rope, chain, cable, and the like.

In one embodiment, flexible strap 110 folds on itself with first strapend portion 114 aligned with and connected to body portion 120 atattachment point 126. First strap end portion 114 and second strap endportion 117 each extend from attachment point 126 for coupling to oneanother to define openable second loop 142. In one embodiment, firststrap end portion 114 is attached to body portion 120 by stitching;however, other attachment methods are acceptable and include a grommet,a rivet, a fastener, a connector, a crimp, adhesive, or other meanssuitable to permanently fix first strap end portion 114 to body portion120.

A tubular member 130 is installed over second strap end portion 117 offlexible strap 110 with flexible strap 110 extending through apassageway 132 defined by tubular member 130. In one embodiment, tubularmember 130 is positioned between second strap end 118 and attachmentpoint 126 with second strap end 118 extending from passageway 132. Inone embodiment, tubular member 130 defines a U shape having a first arm134 and a second arm 136 extending from a transverse part 138 insubstantially parallel and spaced apart relation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view shows the embodiment oflanyard 100 of FIGS. 1-3 installed on a structure 194 and supportingrolled product 190. As shown in FIG. 4, first lanyard end portion 102with first loop 124 is wrapped or folded around structure 194 and thensecond lanyard end portion 104, which includes openable second loop 142and rolled product 190, is passed through first loop 124 to define aslip knot 192 on structure 194. Rolled product 190 (e.g., a roll oftape) has a radial thickness 196 measured radially from radially insidesurface 190 a to radially outside surface 190 b. Rolled product 190 hasan axial width 197. Typically, radially inside surface 190 a iscylindrical and therefore is able to roll or spin on tubular member 130to dispense the product.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, which is a variation oflanyard 100, flexible strap 110 folds on itself with first strap endportion 114 aligned with or crossing body portion 120. First strap endportion 114 is fixedly connected or fixedly attached to body portion 120at an attachment point 126 to define a closed first loop 124 at firstlanyard end 102. In one embodiment, first strap end 116 of flexiblestrap 110 connects to body portion 120 at attachment point 126 to definefirst loop 124 at first lanyard end portion 102. In other embodiments,first strap end portion 114 extends beyond attachment point 126 by apredefined length from attachment point 126 to first strap end 116, suchas for coupling to second strap end 118 as in the embodiment of FIGS.1-4 discussed above. First loop 124 is sized to permit second lanyardend portion 104 with a tubular member 130 to pass through opening 124 aof first loop 124. Optionally and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, first loop124 is sized to permit second lanyard end portion 104 with tubularmember 130, and a roll of rolled product 190 to pass through opening 124a to form a slip knot 192 around a structure 194, a connector, a belt,or other object.

In one embodiment, first strap end portion 114 of flexible strap 110 isattached by stitching 128 to body portion 120; however, other attachmentmethods are acceptable and include a grommet, a rivet, a fastener, aconnector, a crimp, adhesive, or other means suitable to permanently fixfirst strap end portion 114 or first strap end 116 to body portion 120of flexible strap 110.

At second lanyard end portion 104, a tubular member 130 is installedover flexible strap 110 over second strap end portion 117. Flexiblestrap 110 extends through a passageway 132 defined by tubular member130. In one embodiment, tubular member 130 is positioned between secondstrap end 118 and attachment point 126 with second strap end 118extending from passageway 132. In one embodiment, tubular member 130defines a U shape having a first arm 134 and a second arm 136 extendingfrom a transverse arm 138 in substantially parallel and spaced apartrelation.

In one embodiment, tubular member 130 is a length of plastic, rubber, ormetal tubing that is bent or assembled into a U shape. Tubular member130 is rigid enough to maintain its shape when supporting a hand-heldroll product, such as adhesive tape or the like. In one embodiment,tubular member 130 is made of rigid plastic, such as cross-linkedpolyethylene (“PEX”) tubing having an outer diameter of about one inchand an inner diameter of about ¾ inch.

In one embodiment, second arm 136 is longer than first arm 134, wherethe U shape resembles more of a J shape. In one embodiment, first arm134 and second arm 136 each have a length at least as great as a radialthickness of rolled product 190 as measured from an radially insidesurface 190 a to a radially outside surface 190 b (shown in FIG. 5).First arm 134 is spaced apart from second arm 136 by a distance that isat least as great as axial width 197 of rolled product 190 (shown inFIG. 4), which is commonly about two to about four inches. Other largeror smaller spacing is acceptable depending on the type and number ofrolled product(s) supported by lanyard 100.

When tubular member 130 is sized and shaped in this way, rolledproduct(s) 190 can freely rotate or spin about transverse part 138 todispense the product (e.g., tape) without interference or resistancefrom flexible strap 110 (see FIG. 4). When made of PEX, for example,first and second arms 134, 136 are smooth enough to minimally grip aroll or rolled product 190. First and second arms 134, 136 act as guidesfor rolled product 190 as it rotates about transverse part 138 and alsoprotect flexible strap 110 from abrasive wear.

In other embodiments, tubular member 130 includes one or more straightor curved tubing segments that together define a U shape. For example,first arm 134, transverse part 138, and second arm 136 are separatesegments that are positioned in proximity with each other along flexiblestrap 110 to define a U shape. An embodiment having a single tubingsegment is discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 12-15.

In another embodiment, tubular member 130 is a continuous length oftubing that substantially forms a U shape. Tubular member 130 may be asingle length of tubing that is bent to a U shape or it may be a seriesof straight sections and elbows that are assembled together. In oneembodiment where tubular member 130 is a continuous length of tubingbent to define a U shape, first arm 134 and second arm 136 splay outwardas they extend from transverse part 138. In other words, first andsecond arms 134, 136 diverge away from each other along a longitudinalaxis of transverse part 138. Accordingly, tubular member 130 placessecond strap end portion 117 in tension and takes up any slack betweenconnector 140 and body portion 120 or second connector 140, which arediscussed below. In such a splayed embodiment, a user must squeeze firstand second arms 134, 136 toward each other to provide sufficient slackin second strap end portion 117 for connector 140 to be disconnectedfrom body portion 120 or second connector 144.

A connector 140 is fixedly attached to first strap end 116 and/or secondstrap end 118 of flexible strap 110. In one embodiment, first strap end116 and/or second strap end 118 folds on itself and is fixed to itselfto define a strap connector opening 119 to receive connector 140. Withconnector 140 extending through strap connector opening 119 on firststrap end 116 and on second strap end 118, for example, connector 140 isarranged to couple to first strap end 116 to second strap end 118. Inone embodiment, connector 140 is operable between an open connectorposition and a closed connector position so as to be selectivelyconnected to body portion 120 or a second connector 144 on body portion120 other location on flexible strap 110. Examples of such a connector140 include carabiners, snap hooks, a chain link with a closure, lobsterclasps, and the like. For example, connector 140 is a carabiner that isclipped around flexible strap 110, through an opening in flexible strap110, or through a loop defined by flexible strap 110 to define anopenable second loop 142 at second lanyard end portion 104 that includessecond strap end portion 117, tubular member 130, and connector 140.

Optionally, flexible strap 110 includes a second connector 144, such asa D-ring, O-ring, or other connector with a permanently or releasablyclosed geometry to which connector 140 attaches. In one embodiment,second connector 144 is attached to first strap end 116 as shown inFIGS. 1-4. In some embodiments, second connector 144 is operable betweenan open connector position and a closed connector position.

In some embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5-7, second connector 144 isattached to flexible strap 110 at body portion 120 between first lanyardend 102 and second lanyard end 104. In such an embodiment, secondconnector 144 may be installed with flexible strap 110 extending throughsecond connector opening 144 a, where second connector is not fixedlyattached to (i.e., allowed to slide along) body portion 120. In otherembodiments, second connector 144 is fixedly attached to body portion120, such as by passing body portion 120 through second connectoropening 144 a, looping it around second connector 144 a to fold onitself, and attaching body portion 120 to itself to define a secondconnector opening 143. With body portion 120 defining second connectoropening 143, it links or couples body portion 120 to second connector144. Body portion may be attached to itself using methods as discussedabove for attachment point 126.

In other embodiments, connector 140 is a closed loop, such as a D-ring,an O-ring, or other connector or structure with a permanently closedgeometry. In such an embodiment, connector 140 is selectivelyconnectable to body portion 120 by having second connector 144 on bodyportion 120, where second connector 144 is operable between an openconnector position and a closed connector position. In one embodiment,both of connector 140 and second connector 144 are operable between anopen connector position and a closed connector position. In otherembodiments, connector 140 is eliminated and replaced by a closed loopdefined by second strap end 118 or an opening through second strap endportion 117 or second strap end 118. Second connector 144 may beattached through such an opening or loop.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, front, side, and perspective views,respectively, illustrate another embodiment of lanyard 100′. FIG. 11shows the embodiment of lanyard 100 shown in FIGS. 8-10 installed onstructure 194 and including rolled product 190.

Similar to embodiments discussed above, lanyard 100′ has a first lanyardend 102 and a second lanyard end 104, where first lanyard end 102defines first loop 124 and second lanyard end 104 defines openablesecond loop 142. Second loop 142 is shown open in FIGS. 8-9 and is shownclosed in FIGS. 10-11. Lanyard 100′ is assembled from flexible strap 110having first strap end portion 114 with first strap end 116, secondstrap end portion 117 with second strap end 118, and body portion 120extending between first strap end portion 114 and second strap endportion 117. At lanyard first end 102, flexible strap 110 folds onitself such that first strap end portion 114 with first strap end 116 isfixedly attached or connected to body portion 120 at attachment point126, thereby defining first loop 124. Second strap end portion 117extends from attachment point 126 into second arm 136 of tubular member130, through passageway 132, and out of first arm 134. Connector 140 isfixedly attached to second strap end 118.

In one embodiment, connector 140 is a ring or loop, such as a D-ring orO-ring. Connector 140 is sized to permit first loop 142 to pass throughconnector opening 140 a and define second loop 142. In otherembodiments, connector 140 is not included as part of lanyard 100′ andinstead, second strap end 118 defines a through opening or loop (shownin FIGS. 8A, 8B) through which first loop 124 is passed to define secondloop 142. In one embodiment, connector 140 is larger than the innerdiameter of tubular member 130 so that tubular member 130 cannot beremoved by sliding over second strap end 118.

In yet another embodiment, lanyard 100′ has no connectors. Instead,first strap end 116 is connected to second strap end 118 to define asingle loop. Flexible strap 110 is passed through tubular member 130,where one portion of the single loop becomes first loop 124 extendingfrom second arm 136 and where the portion of the single loop extendingfrom first arm 134 becomes second end portion 117 that defines secondloop 142. First loop 124 is passed through second loop 142.

As with the embodiment discussed above and shown in FIGS. 1-4, tubularmember 130 of lanyard 100′ substantially defines a U shape with firstarm 134, second arm 136, and transverse part 138.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-14, front, side, and perspective views,respectively, illustrate another embodiment of lanyard 100″ with firstlanyard end 102 defining first loop 124 and second lanyard end 104defining openable second loop 142. Second loop 142 is shown closed inFIGS. 12, 14, and 15 and is shown open in FIG. 13. Lanyard 100″ isassembled from flexible strap 110 having first strap end portion 114with first strap end 116, second strap end portion 117 with second strapend 118, and body portion 120. Body portion 120 folds on itself isfixedly attached to or connected to itself at attachment point 126,thereby defining first loop 124 and first lanyard end 102. First strapend portion 114 and second strap end portion 117 extend from attachmentpoint 126 to first strap end 116 and second strap end 118, respectively,and which form a portion of second lanyard end 104.

First strap end 116 includes connector 140, which is operable between anopen connector position and a closed connector position. Second strapend 118 has a second connector 144 or defines a through opening 123(shown in FIG. 8B) or a loop or strap connector opening 121 (shown inFIG. 8A) for selective connection to or coupling with connector 140.Tubular member 130 is installed on second strap end portion 117 withsecond strap end 118 extending through passageway 132. Connector 140 isconnected to second connector 144 to close second loop 142. In someembodiments, connector 140 is a D-ring or other closed loop and secondconnector 144 is operable between an open connector position and aclosed connector position. Optionally, connector 140 and secondconnector 144 each are operable between an open connector position and aclosed connector position.

In one embodiment, second strap end portion 117 of lanyard 100″ includesone or more intermediate connectors 146 (e.g., a loop or D-ring)positioned between second strap end 118 and attachment point 126 anddefining a first segment 117 a and a second segment 117 b of secondstrap end portion 117. Additional intermediate connectors 146 defineadditional segments of second strap end portion 117. Tubular member 130is installed over first segment 117 a. In one embodiment, tubular member130 is a length of straight tubing having an inner diameter that issmaller than second connector 144 and intermediate connector 146. Assuch, tubular member 130 is not removed by disconnecting secondconnector 146 from connector 140 and sliding tubular member 130 oversecond connector 144.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of lanyard 100″ attached to structure194 by slip knot 192 formed by first loop 124 at first lanyard end 102.Rolled product 190 is installed on tubular member 130 with second loop142 at second lanyard end 104 coupled to tubular member 130 and rolledproduct 190.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a flowchart illustrates exemplary steps of amethod 300 of tethering a rolled product. In step 305, the user providesa flexible strap 110 having a first strap end portion 114 with a firststrap end 116, a second strap end portion 117 with a second strap end118, and a body portion 120 between the first strap end portion 114 andthe second end portion 118. In one embodiment, flexible strap 110 isselected with first end 114 fixedly attached or connected to bodyportion 120 to define a first loop 124.

In step 310, tubular member 130 is installed on flexible strap 110 withsecond strap end portion 117 extending through passageway 132 of tubularmember 130 with second end extending out from passageway 132 of tubularmember 130. In one embodiment, tubular member 130 is selected to definea U shape or a J shape. Tubular member 130 may be a continuous length oftubing formed into the U shape or J shape or J shape with flattenedbottom or it may be a plurality of segments connected together orinstalled in proximity to one another on second strap end portion 117.

In step 315, a roll of rolled product 190 is installed on flexible strap110 by passing second strap end portion 117 through the opening of theroll. In one embodiment, step 315 includes positioning rolled product190 between first and second arms 134, 136 of tubular member 130.

In step 320, second strap end 118 is connected to body portion 120 offlexible strap 110 to define second loop 142 coupled to rolled product190. In one embodiment, second strap end 118 is selected to includeconnector 140 operable between an open connector position and a closedconnector position. Connector 140 is coupled to body portion 120,through an opening through or defined by body portion 120, or through anopening of a second connector 144 attached to body portion 120.

In step 325, first loop 124 is connected to the user or to structure190. In one embodiment, first loop 124 is wrapped around structure 190and then second loop 142 with rolled product 190 is passed through firstloop 124 to form slip knot 192 on structure 190.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Furthermodification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to thoseskilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed tobe within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A drop-prevention lanyard for a rolled product, thedrop-prevention lanyard comprising: a flexible strap having a firststrap end portion with a first strap end, a second strap end portionwith a second strap end, and a body portion between the first strap endportion and the second strap end portion, wherein the first strap endportion is fixedly attached to the body portion at an attachment point,thereby defining a first loop at a first lanyard end; a connector on theflexible strap and operable between an open connector position and aclosed connector position, the connector releasably connected to thesecond strap end and to the body portion, thereby defining a secondlanyard end with an openable second loop; and a tubular member installedover the second strap end portion and positioned between the attachmentpoint and the second strap end.
 2. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim1, wherein the connector is fixedly attached to the second strap end. 3.The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 2, wherein the tubular member has apassageway therethrough sized to prohibit passage of the connector. 4.The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 1, further comprising a secondconnector attached to the body portion of the flexible strap andpositioned between the tubular member and the first loop, the secondconnector being constructed to couple the connector to the body portion.5. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 1 wherein the tubular member hasa first arm, a second arm and a transverse arm between the first arm andthe second arm.
 6. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 5 wherein thetubular member is unitary.
 7. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 5wherein the second arm is shorter than the first arm.
 7. Thedrop-prevention lanyard of claim 1 wherein the tubular member defines aU shape.
 8. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 1 wherein the tubularmember defines a J shape with a flattened bottom.
 9. A drop-preventionlanyard for a rolled product, the lanyard assembly comprising: aflexible strap having a first strap end portion with a first strap end,a second strap end portion with a second strap end, and a body portionbetween the first strap end portion and the second strap end portion,wherein the first strap end portion is fixedly attached to the bodyportion at an attachment point, thereby defining a first unopenable loopat a first lanyard end portion; an openable loop formed at the secondlanyard end portion; and a tubular member installed over the secondstrap end portion between the second strap end and the attachment point;wherein the openable loop on the second lanyard end portion is sized topermit passage of the first loop therethrough and wherein the first loopis sized to permit passage of second strap end portion and the hollowtube therethrough.
 10. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 9, whereinthe openable loop on the second lanyard end portion comprises aconnector ring fixedly attached to the second strap end.
 11. Thedrop-prevention lanyard of claim 9, wherein the tubular member has afirst arm, a second arm, and a transverse arm between the first arm andthe second arm, the first arm being spaced apart from the second arm byat least two inches.
 12. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 11 whereinthe tubular member is unitary.
 13. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim11 wherein the second arm is shorter than the first arm.
 14. Thedrop-prevention lanyard of claim 9 wherein the tubular member defines aU shape.
 15. The drop-prevention lanyard of claim 9 wherein the tubularmember defines a J shape with a flattened bottom.
 16. A drop-preventionlanyard assembly for a rolled product comprising: a flexible straphaving a first strap end portion with a first strap end, a second strapend portion with a second strap end, and a body portion extendingbetween the first strap end portion and the second strap end portion,wherein the body portion is fixedly attached to itself at an attachmentpoint defining a closed first loop with the first strap end portion andwherein the second strap end portion extends from the attachment pointand wherein the first strap end defines a first connector opening andthe second strap end defines a second strap connector opening; a firstconnector attached through one or both of the first strap connectoropening and the second strap connector opening, the first connectorbeing operable between an open connector position and a closed connectorposition, thereby being capable of selectively connecting the firststrap end to the second strap end; and a predefined length of a tubularmember installed over the flexible strap between the second strap endand the attachment point.
 17. The drop-prevention lanyard assembly ofclaim 16, further comprising a second connector connected through thesecond strap connector opening and wherein the first connector isattached through the first strap connector opening.
 18. Thedrop-prevention lanyard assembly of claim 17, wherein the firstconnector is a carabiner and the second connector is a closed loop. 19.The drop-prevention lanyard assembly of claim 16, further comprising: anintermediate connector installed between a first segment and a secondsegment of the second strap end portion, wherein the predefined lengthof the tubular member is positioned between the second strap end and theintermediate connector.
 20. The drop-prevention lanyard assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the tubular member has a passageway smaller than thesecond connector, thereby preventing removal of the tubular member bysliding it over the second connector.